Radiation Attenuating Protective Garments

ABSTRACT

A radiation-attenuation garment system having a plurality of radiation-attenuating material panels adapted to conform to the contours of a body. The radiation-attenuation garment system includes a shirt and underwear shorts formed by compression material. A plurality of radiation-attenuating material panels are removably disposed within the shirt and underwear shorts to protect the wearer from radiation exposure in the areas having the radiation attenuation panels.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/444,299, filed Feb. 27, 2017, by the same inventor and withthe same title, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/299,967, filed Feb. 25, 2016, by the sameinventor and with the same title.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to radiation attenuatingmaterial. More specifically, the present invention relates to radiationattenuating material for protection of the human body during medicalprocedures.

Background of the Invention

During a medical imaging procedure, the human body in exposed toradiation that can damage critical anatomy of the patient's body. Inorder to mitigate the risk of exposure to these important areas, the useof heavy lead aprons have been adapted for use in the imaging area.These heavy lead aprons are cumbersome for the patient, operating roompersonnel, and technicians involved in the X-Ray process in hospitalsand surgery centers. The lead apron can slide off of the patient's bodyas the patient is contorted into the position that facilitates the bestimage acquisition. This can prevent the acquisition of an image of theintended anatomy, as well as expose the aforementioned sensitiveanatomy. Additionally, the lead aprons worn by doctors and technicianscan similarly slide out of place and expose sensitive anatomy to harm asthey maneuver around the patient to provide treatment and image capture.Further, current lead aprons are expensive due to overuse of lead inareas where radiation protection is unnecessary. Accordingly, it isdesirable to have a garment system that effectively protects a person'sanatomy, while allowing ease of movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the invention includes a lightweight fabric with abuilt-in lead protection material. A radiation-attenuation garmentsystem having a plurality of radiation-attenuating material panelsadapted to conform to the contours of a body. The radiation-attenuationgarment system includes a radiation attenuation shirt, comprising afront shirt portion, made of a compression material and a back shirtportion, made of a compression material. The front portion and the backportion are secured together to form a shirt, such that a firstradiation-attenuating material panel may be removably disposed withinthe shirt, thereby protecting the wearer from to radiation exposure inthe areas having the radiation attenuation panels. Theradiation-attenuation garment system may also includeradiation-attenuation underwear shorts, comprising a front underwearshorts portion, made of a compression material and a back underwearshorts portion, made of a compression material. The front underwearportion and the back underwear portion may be secured together, or maybe formed as a unitary garment (e.g., without seams) to form underwearshorts. A radiation-attenuating material panel may be removably disposedwithin the underwear shorts, thereby protecting the wearer fromradiation exposure in the areas having the radiation attenuation panels.Other embodiments in accordance with the spirit and scope of theinvention will become apparent to those of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a layered, front view of one embodiment of theradiation-attenuating shirt;

FIG. 2 shows a layered, rear view of one embodiment of theradiation-attenuating shirt;

FIG. 3 shows a layered, front view of one embodiment of theradiation-attenuating underwear shorts; and

FIG. 4 shows a layered, rear view of one embodiment of theradiation-attenuating underwear shorts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to radiation-attenuating garments formedical personnel. FIG. 1 generally shows a layered, front view of oneembodiment of the radiation-attenuating shirt. In FIG. 1, for example,there is shown a front shirt portion 19 of a radiation-attenuating shirt10. The front shirt portion 19 is formed of compression fabric 14, suchthat the shirt 10 tightly adheres to a wearer and minimally restrictsmovement. Compression material 14 can be Spandex™, polyester blend, orany other material designed to stretch and retract such that acompression of the body is achieved.

Front shirt portion 19 includes a first pocket 12, wherein the pocket isformed by attaching a panel of compression material to front shirtportion on the bottom and sides of the panel of compression material.The unattached top portion of the first pocket 12 allows an object to beinserted between the front shirt portion 19 and the panel of compressionmaterial and be retained thereby.

A radiation-attenuating material panel 16 prevents transmission ofX-rays therethrough. Preferably, the radiation-attenuating materialpanel 16 is made of lead. However, the radiation attenuating materialpanel may also be a lead alloy or other material suitable to block ormitigate transmission of X-rays. Lead protection for direct beam 60 kV,80 kV, 100 kV, and/or 0.5 millimeter lead equivalent is required formale and female reproductive parts. Lead protection for direct beam 60kV, 80 kV, 100 kV, and/or 0.5 millimeter lead equivalent is required formale and female bone marrow. The radiation-attenuating material panelsare adapted to conform to the contours of a body and can vary in sizeand shape to cover the requisite anatomy. Radiation-attenuating materialpanel 16 includes attaching mechanisms 18 on one of its sides.

Radiation-attenuating material panel 16 may be removably inserted intofirst pocket 12. However, due to the weight of the radiation-attenuatingmaterial panel 16, a plurality of attaching mechanisms 18 are utilizedto help retain radiation-attenuating material panel 16. For example,attaching mechanism 18 can be a fastener system including grommetedsnaps. Alternatively, the attaching mechanisms can include VelcroTM,buttons, snaps, ties, buckles, or any other mechanism for allowingremovably coupling the radiation-attenuating material panel 16 to thefront shirt portion 19. The front shirt portion 19, includes a pluralityof attaching mechanisms disposed on one side of the front portion toattach to the plurality of attaching mechanisms 18 on theradiation-attenuating material panel 16.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a layered, rear view of oneembodiment of the radiation-attenuating shirt. In FIG. 2, for example,there is shown a back shirt portion 28 of a radiation-attenuating shirt10. The back shirt portion 28 is formed of compression fabric 14, suchthat the shirt 10 tightly adheres to a wearer and minimally restrictsmovement. Compression material 14 can be Spandex™, polyester blend,nylon, or any other material designed to stretch and retract such that acompression of the body is achieved.

Back shirt portion 28 includes a second pocket 22, wherein the pocket isformed by attaching a panel of compression material to back shirtportion 28 on the bottom and sides of the panel of compression material.The unattached top portion of the second pocket 22 allows an object tobe inserted between the back shirt portion 28 and the panel ofcompression material and be retained thereby.

A second radiation-attenuating material panel 26 prevents transmissionof X-rays therethrough. Preferably, the second radiation-attenuatingmaterial panel 26 is made of lead. However, the second radiationattenuating material panel 26 may also be a lead alloy or other materialsuitable to block or mitigate transmission of X-rays. Secondradiation-attenuating material panel 26 includes attaching mechanisms 18on one of its sides and is optimally shaped and sized for a wearer'sback.

Second radiation-attenuating material panel 26 can be removably insertedinto second pocket 22. A plurality of attaching mechanisms 18 areutilized to help retain second radiation-attenuating material panel 26in second pocket 22. For example, attaching mechanism 18 can be afastener system including grommeted snaps. Alternatively, the attachingmechanisms can include Velcro™, buttons, snaps, buckles, ties, or anyother mechanism. for allowing removably coupling secondradiation-attenuating material panel 26 to back shirt portion 28 and mayalso be operable to secure the second radiation-attenuating materialpanel 26 to the first radiation-attenuating material 16. The back shirtportion 28, includes a plurality of attaching mechanisms 18 disposed onone side of the front portion to attach to the plurality of attachingmechanisms 18 on second radiation-attenuating material panel 26.

FIG. 3 shows a layered, front view of one embodiment of theradiation-attenuating underwear shorts 30. In FIG. 3, for example, thereis shown a front underwear portion 36 of radiation-attenuating underwearshorts 30. The front underwear portion 36 is formed of compressionfabric 14, such that the underwear 30 tightly adheres to a wearer andminimally restricts movement. Compression material 14 can be Spandex™,polyester blend, or any other material designed to stretch and retractsuch that a compression of the body is achieved.

Front underwear portion 36 includes a first pocket 34, wherein the firstpocket is formed by attaching a panel of compression material to frontunderwear portion 36 on the bottom and sides of the panel of compressionmaterial. The unattached top portion of the first pocket 34 allows anobject to be inserted between the front underwear portion 36 and thepanel of compression material allowing the object to be retainedthereby.

A first radiation-attenuating material panel 32 prevents transmission ofX-rays therethrough. Preferably, the first radiation-attenuatingmaterial panel 32 is made of lead. However, the firstradiation-attenuating material panel 32 may also be a lead alloy orother material suitable to block or mitigate transmission of X-rays.First radiation-attenuating material panel 32 includes attachingmechanisms 18 on one of its sides and is optimally shaped and sized fora wearer's pelvis. Shapes may include derivations for male and femaleanatomy.

First radiation-attenuating material panel 32 can be removably insertedinto first pocket 34. A plurality of attaching mechanisms 18 areutilized to help retain first radiation-attenuating material panel 32 infirst pocket 34. For example, attaching mechanism 18 can be a fastenersystem including grommeted snaps. Alternatively, the attachingmechanisms can include Velcro™, buttons, or any other mechanism forallowing removably coupling first radiation-attenuating material panel32 to front underwear portion 36. The front underwear portion 36,includes a plurality of attaching mechanisms 18 disposed on one side ofthe front portion to attach to the plurality of attaching mechanisms 18on first radiation-attenuating material panel 32.

FIG. 4 shows a layered, rear view of one embodiment of theradiation-attenuating underwear shorts 30. In FIG. 4, for example, thereis shown a back underwear portion 46 of radiation-attenuating underwearshorts 30. The back underwear portion 46 is formed of compression fabric14, such that the underwear 30 tightly adheres to a wearer and minimallyrestricts movement. Compression material 14 can be Spandex™, polyesterblend, or any other material designed to stretch and retract such that acompression of the body is achieved.

Back underwear portion 46 includes a second pocket 44, wherein the firstpocket is formed by attaching a panel of compression material to backunderwear portion 46 on the bottom and sides of the panel of compressionmaterial. The unattached top portion of the second pocket 44 allows anobject to be inserted between the back underwear portion 46 and thepanel of compression material allowing the object to be retainedthereby.

A second radiation-attenuating material panel 42 prevents transmissionof X-rays therethrough. Preferably, the second radiation-attenuatingmaterial panel 42 is made of lead. However, the secondradiation-attenuating material panel 42 may also be a lead alloy orother material suitable to block or mitigate transmission of X-rays.Second radiation-attenuating material panel 42 includes attachingmechanisms 18 on one of its sides and is optimally shaped and sized fora wearer's pelvis.

Second radiation-attenuating material panel 42 can be removably insertedinto second pocket 44. A plurality of attaching mechanisms 18 areutilized to help retain second radiation-attenuating material panel 42in second pocket 44. For example, attaching mechanism 18 can be afastener system including grommeted snaps. Alternatively, the attachingmechanisms can include Velcro™, buttons, or any other mechanism forallowing removably coupling second radiation-attenuating material panel42 to back underwear portion 46. The back underwear portion 46, includesa plurality of attaching mechanisms 18 disposed on one side of the frontportion to attach to the plurality of attaching mechanisms 18 on secondradiation-attenuating material panel 42.

Advantageously, the second radiation-attenuating material is lighter andcheaper than current options. By compressing the radiation attenuatingmaterial to the wearer, the present invention provides greaterprotection against slippage and exposure of vulnerable anatomy.

While the present invention has been described in detail, it is notintended to be limited. Accordingly, various changes, variations, andsubstitutions may be made without departing with the scope of theinvention as disclosed.

What is claimed is:
 1. Radiation-attenuation underwear shorts,comprising: a plurality of radiation-attenuating material panels adaptedto conform to the contours of a body, having a plurality of attachingmechanisms on one side; a front portion, made of a compression materialand having a plurality of attaching mechanisms disposed on one side ofthe front portion, the front portion including a first pocket forretaining a first radiation attenuating material panel; and a backportion, made of a compression material and having a plurality ofattaching mechanisms disposed on one side of the back portion, the backportion including a second pocket for retaining a second radiationattenuating material panel, wherein the front portion and the backportion are secured together to form underwear shorts, such that theattaching mechanisms and the first and second pockets are disposedwithin the underwear shorts, wherein the first radiation-attenuatingmaterial panel is removably disposed within the first pocket and theplurality of attaching mechanisms of the first radiation-attenuatingmaterial panel are removably coupled to the plurality of attachingmechanisms of the front portion, wherein the secondradiation-attenuating material panel is removably disposed within thesecond pocket and the plurality of attaching mechanisms of the secondradiation-attenuating material panel are removably coupled to theplurality of attaching mechanisms of the rear portion.
 2. Theradiation-attenuation underwear shorts of claim 1, wherein the radiationattenuating panels are comprised of lead.
 3. The radiation-attenuationunderwear shorts of claim 1, wherein the radiation attenuating panelsare comprised of lead alloy.
 4. The radiation-attenuation underwearshorts of claim 1, wherein the radiation attenuating panels are coveredin a removable, machine washable material.